Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegrams and A 1 Forms), supplemented with info received from Tony Cooper, England (BHX 111 A 1 form and HMS Rajputania's report) - Their source: Public Records Office, Kew.

Nationalities have been added with the help of "The World's Merchant Fleets", R. W. Jordan.

Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port.

The ships are listed in the order in which they appear in the various documents.
The stations shown in partenthesis in the Bermuda section are stations taken in the combined convoy.

Notes (Bermuda portion):
Commodore for Bermuda section was Captain F. H. Taylor of the escorting HMS Rajputana, Vice Commodore was Captain J. Devereux of Colonial.

Captain T. Orford of Amakura later took over as Vice Commodore when Colonial parted company at 20:50 on Febr. 24 in 38 21N 58 28W, having been damaged in a gale that day and was ordered to proceed to Halifax for repairs to boats and davits.

Hylton was ordered to proceed to Halifax at 21:20 on Febr. 24 in 38 21N 58 32W. She had lost one boat and rafts in the gale, and deck cargo required resecuring.

Benalbanach was last seen at 21:50 Febr. 26 in position 38 17N 58 46W. Reason for parting company with Bermuda section not known, but she was subsequently found to have joined up with HX 111.

The weather was moderate until Febr. 23 when the wind increased from the west, having become force 12 by the morning of the 24th, with very heavy continuous rain. The convoy was hove to before dawn and the ships were widely scattered at daylight. At 21:40 that day signal was made to proceed at 7 knots (less Colonial and Hylton, which had been ordered to head for Halifax as mentioned). At dawn on Febr. 25 only 4 ships were in sight; these were ordered to heave to while Rajputana went back to try and locate the missing ships. She searched until 17:30, and located Amakura and Iroquois which had rejoined the rest of the convoy by 20:00. Benalbanach and Joannis (last seen at dusk Febr. 24), however, were not sighted. It looks like Iroquois straggled again at 19:30 on Febr. 26 in 40 44N 55 20W. When last seen she was 14 miles astern of convoy, having been forced to stop an engine for repairs. A search made the following day to a distance of 23 miles astern of the convoy failed to find her.

The 2 portions of the convoy made contact at 18:00 GMT on Febr. 27.

Local escort for the Bermuda section was HMCS Elk. Ocean Escort Rajputana parted company at 10:30 on Febr. 28 in 43 06N 49 47W.

Notes for combined convoy:
Commodore of combined convoy was Admiral A. J. Davies in Saluta, Vice Commodore A. S. MacKay was in Lindenhall.

The Commodore says the convoy had a total of 20 ships. The Bermuda section joined 24 hours late owing to bad weather.

He brags about the "behaviour" of Ribera, Ensis and Troubadour, but finds his ship Saluta unsuitable as Commodore Vessel, though she "did extrememly well in the circumstances". I'm unable to desipher all his notes, but it appears the ship had steering problems and leaks in cabins etc.

Ocean Escort: HMS Aurania from Halifax until March 7.
Local Escorts: HMS Wolverine joined P.M. March 8, delayed due to fog. HMS Verity joined A.M. March 10, reason for delay unknown. HMS Chelsea joined P.M. March 10, reason for delay unknown (all 3 were destroyers). No air escort due to fog.

More details on all the Norwegian ships mentioned on this page can be found in the alphabetical ship lists of this website - ref. index below.

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